It was mid March, and I was hiking along the Soldier’s Pass Trail just north of Sedona. The agave plants in early Spring always appear to look more verdant than any other time of year – with their blue-green spiny rosettes in stark contrast to the native red sandstone of the area. This afternoon was no exception, with this lovely example just waiting to have its picture taken in this beautiful location. The agave also serve as one of my favorite plants to photograph when they ‘bloom’, sending a thick, tree-like stalk 12 to 16 feet into the air. Mature agave (at least 8 years old) expend all of their energy into these blooming events, causing the plant to die soon after. This image is a composite of two; one exposed for the bright clouds, and one exposed for the shadowed area around the agave.